Rip Out the Carpet

Even the cleanest homeowner can't remove all of the dust and debris that collects in wall-to-wall carpeting. Older coverings especially hold a lot of extra dirt that can exacerbate asthma and allergies. Consider freshening your home by removing the carpeting. First, pull up the carpet in an inconspicuous corner to determine what kind of flooring you have underneath. If you have hardwood floors, you can remove the dingy carpet and refinish them, or leave them as-is depending on their condition. If you find a concrete or plywood subfloor beneath your carpeting, you may want to price out flooring alternatives before you remove it.